Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education

Important Announcement

DCCECE Launches New Arkansas Professional Development Registry

Help us spread the news! The TAPP Registry is transitioning to the newly developed, user friendly Arkansas Professional Development Registry (PDR). The PDR will replace TAPP as the tracking component of Arkansas' Early Childhood Education and Care Professional Development System. While the PDR is open to everyone for membership, all early education professionals working in licensed child care centers, child care family homes, and out-of-school time facilities are required to become a member.

How can you help? Join the PDR today at www.arkpdr.com and spread the news to your coworkers, friends and family that the PDR is available! Questions? Please, see the "Frequently Asked Questions" document below.

Child Care Consumer Education

Infant/Toddler Certificate

The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE) offers an Infant Toddler Certificate to support practitioners in acquiring skills and knowledge as part of a career pathway in the field of Infant and Toddler care. The Infant Toddler Certificate contains three levels of training, foundation, intermediate, and advanced, for each practitioner to complete. Upon completion of all three levels, practitioners can expect to build their professional competencies in supporting a young child’s social-emotional, cognitive, language, and literacy development. The Infant Toddler Certificate provides a route to higher education for the preparation of all infant toddler teachers. This certificate will also prepare its recipients to educate children with special needs.

BehaviorHelp Requests

On July 1, 2016, the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education is implementing a new system called BehaviorHelp to assist you with behavioral challenges in young children. Download and complete the form and then submit to BehaviorHelp@dhs.arkansas.gov.

Public Health Emergency - Measles Information

The Arkansas Dept. of Health has notified Healthy Child Care Arkansas that Memphis is experiencing an outbreak of measles, with 6 confirmed cases. Arkansans should be on the alert as measles can be a serious disease. All child care providers should be prepared to take the following steps:

Check your records to be sure that all children have received their MMR vaccines:

First dose between 12 and 15 months of age,

second dose at 4 – 6 years

If you suspect that a child has symptoms of measles, call the Arkansas Dept. of Health IMMEDIATELY:

During business hours: 501-661-2318

After hours: 501-661-2136

For information on symptoms, please review the attached CDC flyers for child care centers and for families. Further information is available at www.cdc.gov/measles/

Public Health Emergency - Zika Virus Information

On January 22, 2016, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to respond to outbreaks of Zikaoccurring in the Americas and increased reports of birth defects and Guillain-Barré syndrome in areas affected by Zika. On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) because of clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in some areas affected by Zika. On February 8, 2016, CDC elevated its EOC activation to a Level 1, the highest level.

CDC is working with international public health partners and with state and local health departments to

Overview

Act 1132 of 1997 established the Divi sion of Child Care and Early Childhood Education within the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The purpose of the Division is to enhance the coordination of child care and early childhood education programs within the state. This coordination ensures a seamless delivery of early childhood and child care services to low-income families and those who are moving from welfare to work. Through the licensing and accreditation unit, the Division also works to ensure that child care centers and family child care homes meet state minimum licensing standards and supports programs that voluntarily want to achieve higher-quality standards. The Division, working with the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, adopted the following mission statement: As good stewards of the public trust, the Early Childhood Commission will support and advise the Division by ensuring that all Arkansas children and families have access to a safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate (nurturing learning) environment (and) by educating and assisting parents, child care providers, and communities to prepare our children for future success.

Programs and Services

Below you will find the programs and services offered by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. Click the name for a link to additional information.